England's Steven Finn salutes the crowd after reaching 50. His total of 56 delayed New Zealand for 206 balls on the final day. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The drinks will be on the "Watford Wall" Steven Finn when he returns home after his nightwatchman heroics helped England salvage a draw in the first Test against New Zealand. Come what may in two more matches of a series England were expected by many to win easily, Finn has already earned rich reward from his team-mates for almost five hours of defiance on the final day at the University Oval in Dunedin.

The captain, Alastair Cook, and James Anderson, the England's previous nightwatchman, both promised to ship two cases of wine to Finn's house as an incentive during his maiden half-century – not just in Tests but any professional cricket.

Shunted up from No9 to three, Finn made a nonsense of his previous first-class best of 32 with a painstaking innings of 56 which delayed the Kiwis for 203 balls and allowed England to reach the safety of 421 for six – 128 runs in front thanks too to Cook's 24th Test century, fellow opener Nick Compton's first and 52 from Jonathan Trott.

It means England can head for the second Test in Wellington still all square, despite their first-innings collapse to 167 all out. For Finn, when the time comes to reflect on his significant part in the successful rearguard, he will be able to relax as well with more than a glass or two of white or red.

"All I know is there will be a few cases of wine being sent to my house back in England," said Finn. "I think it was a case of wine from Cook and a case from Jimmy if I saw it through to lunch, and then tea. So I've got four cases of wine coming my way, I think."

Finn could have been forgiven for more animated celebrations when he completed his 50. But he was mindful of other tailenders' histrionics in similar circumstances, and unfamiliar with the etiquette despite a top score of 106 in club cricket.

"I remember watching Glenn McGrath and he was riding his bat like a pony," said Finn. "I thought to myself I wasn't going to do that. I haven't done it for years. So it was a bit alien holding the bat up, but good fun."

Cook considered his and Anderson's outlay well-spent and he is already contemplating the same tactics, should the situation recur. "Bribing Steven seemed to work, so maybe we can apply that again," he said. "He gets well-rewarded for his efforts today. He's done very well out of a few of the lads."

Cook's opposite number, Brendon McCullum, was astounded by Finn's improvement since they played together in New Zealand domestic cricket. Asked if he was shocked a nightwatchman could occupy the crease for so long, McCullum said: "Yes, especially Finny. He played at Otago and I've seen his batting before … he's certainly worked on it."

Cook was surprised, too, but delighted. "The way Steven applied himself was fantastic," said the left-hander. "I certainly didn't know he had that in him and I don't think he did either. But it shows, when you really put your mind to something ,and you're very disciplined on a flat wicket, anyone can make themselves very hard to get out. We've always known he's got a solid defence and he showed that today."

Finn was vindicating England's decision to replace Anderson as their nightwatchman – and Cook's confidence in Compton was also borne out. "It's always a great time to be part of that history when someone scores their first hundred," he said. "Any time you get nought for England, you're under pressure in the second innings – and he played like he can.

"It's great that he's gone on to get a hundred and I think we'll see him take a big step forward because a hundred as an opening batter for England will give you a huge amount of confidence. Knowing you can perform at this level is a big mental hurdle for any batsman."

Cook believes England too can take encouragement from their resilience after that worrying first-innings blip. "When you get bowled out for 160 in the first innings on a good wicket you're always facing an uphill battle just to save the game. We certainly felt after day one pretty much it was damage limitation from there on.

"If you look at pretty much all the shots, it was poor execution - you can describe them as soft dismissals. It's very hard to come back in a game from there. But the character we showed to dig ourselves out of that hole is very pleasing. We've been lucky certainly, in one sense, to escape with a draw. Kevin Pietersen is expected to be fit for next week's second Test despite concern over pain in his right knee. New Zealand will announce their squad on Monday, with an update on the seamer Doug Bracewell's availability expected as he recovers from the foot injury that ruled him out in Dunedin.